ISSAQUAH, WA - Brenda Melissa Hendricks Swedick Credille (aka "Sunny" Brenda), 65, formerly of Taylorville, IL & Springfield, IL, passed away June 26, 2014, at Swedish Medical Center in Issaquah, WA.

Brenda was born on November 18, 1948 to Adam and Verda (Stephens) Hendricks in Taylorville, IL. She was preceded in death by both parents; grandparents Elsie and Melissa (Riggins) Stephens and Herschel and Mabel (Shake) Hendricks; stillborn brother Stephen Minor Hendricks, sister-in-law Marilyn (Elam) Hendricks, and nephew Stephen Everett Hendricks.

She is survived by her two children, Brian K. Swedick of Redmond, WA and Kelly Swedick (Rob Kikta) of North Bend, WA; one grandchild, Lindsey Swedick of New York City; brother Everett Hendricks (fiancée Mary Amos) and sister Elsie (Carl) Reed, both of Taylorville, IL; uncles Jim Hendricks and Herbert (Shirley) Hendricks; nephews and nieces Rusty Reed of Mission Viejo, CA, Sharron (Hendricks) Taft of Taylorville, IL, Rick Reed of Springfield, IL, Tina (Hendricks) Pownall of Taylorville, IL, Mick Reed of Springfield, IL, Jacque (Schroeder) Nation, Jill (Schroeder) Smith and Gerri (German) Poor, all of Taylorville, IL, and Robert D. German of Chicago, IL; as well as many cousins, great-nieces and nephews, and countless beloved friends. Last but not least, she is survived by her cat Rosie; and two grand-dogs, Oliver and Karly.

Brenda loved to dance, garden, listen to soft rock, make home improvements, go boating, do her nails, shop, travel (especially to Florida!), and spend time with her family. Perhaps most of all, she loved to spend time with her gal-pals - she was a social butterfly, and her girlfriends were an extension of her family. She also loved to spend time socializing at the TRN Club in Springfield ("a drinking club with a boating problem"). She had a sunny smile, and contagious laughter that won her new friends in an instant. She will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her.

Brenda received her GED from Taylorville High School. She worked at a number of different jobs over the years, but the bulk of her working life was spent at State Employee Retirement Systems in Springfield, IL.

Brenda retired early from SERS due to health issues. A visit to the Mayo Clinic in 2013 finally resulted in a diagnosis for her mysterious and debilitating illness: CorticoBasal Degeneration. CBD is a rare, degenerative brain disease. Brenda's quality-of-life deteriorated dramatically, especially in the past 8 months, due to this disease. In January of 2014 Brenda moved into an assisted-living facility in Washington State in order to be closer to her children.